11 years on, Baramulla candidates awaiting selection list

Baramulla, May 21: Hundreds of unemployed candidates from this north Kashmir district had submitted applications for various Class IV posts for which interviews were held in many phases, some even eleven years ago. The candidates, however, are still awaiting the final list which has not been made public yet.

According to sources, thousands of candidates from Baramulla district are eagerly waiting for the list; some have even made repeated visits to the Deputy Commissioner’s Office to enquire about it but to no avail.

“I have been waiting for the last 11 years – a long period for any administration work – for this list; my interview was taken way back, but I don’t know why the district administration is delaying this recruitment process for such a long time,” one of the candidates said.

In 2006, the District Administration Baramulla invited application forms for various Class IV posts under advertisement number 04/DDC of 2006, dated 18-10-2006, under endorsement number DDCB/2006 class 4th/8522-35, dated 19-10-2006, but till date the final list of candidates is yet to make an appearance.

“Same posts were announced in other districts of Kashmir in the year 2006, and look at the irony! Those candidates in other districts who qualified the interviews way before are working in different departments of their concerned districts for the last many years, and our Baramulla district has yet to finalise the selection list, it’s seriously tragic,” another candidate said.

“The then authorities in Baramulla district had made different criteria for filling the Class IV posts, all of which we cleared. Interviews were held in several phases, one in 2008 and another in 2009, but I don’t know why this final list has been kept pending,” the candidates said.

According to reports, approximately six to seven thousand candidates had applied for 234 posts. By now, some of them have even crossed their age limit, while some passed away.

“At least six Deputy Commissioners of Baramulla district have been transferred since 2006, but no one found it necessary to finalise the list of Class IV candidates which has been pending for the last 11 years,” Sajad Ahmad, a candidate, told GNS.

The candidates have several times appealed Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Chief Secretary B B Viyas to personally intervene in the matter.

When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Nasir Naqash assured that the selection list will be finalised within 10 to 15 days. (GNS)